The challenge of evolutionary psychology to the humanities: Some major voices in the humanities compared with representative voices of evolutionary psychology.

摘要

This thesis compares some major voices in the humanities to some contemporary representative voices in Evolutionary Psychology regarding the mind and behavior, or what is called "human nature." The simple Standard Social Science Model which essentially embraces empiricism to explain complex human behavior appears obsolete in light of contemporary cognitive science. The author suggests that the humanities must explore ways to integrate contemporary theories of the mind into the discipline. An evolutionary approach to the humanities acknowledges that human behavior and belief systems are akin to adaptations, and that human instincts and values may be mutually supportive.